What happens when young people with lived experience of out-of-home care are given the opportunity to decide what stories should be heard?
For the young people involved in Challenge Community Services’ FOSTER Care to Listen podcast, the answer has been a space to speak openly, share their ideas and challenge the way people understand out-of-home care.
The youth-led podcast project was created to give young people aged 15 to 24, who are currently or formerly in out-of-home care, a platform to talk about the things that matter to them.
And importantly, that didn’t mean talking only about care.
More than their experience of foster care
Young people in foster care are often spoken about in terms of their experiences with the care system. FOSTER Care to Listen was designed to give them the opportunity to be heard on their own terms.
Participants could talk about their interests, passions, opinions, experiences and hopes for the future, as well as sharing their perspectives on out-of-home care.
This helped create a space where young people could be seen as individuals, rather than defined by their experience of the care system.
“This podcast has allowed us to spread awareness about foster care but also to correct any misinformation and open the door for people to ask any questions they have around it. Ever since we started it has always been a safe space to share any stories.”
Young people leading the conversation
The project was funded through the NSW Youth Opportunities Grant and brought together a group of care-experienced young people to shape the project from the ground up.
Working alongside staff from Challenge Community Services, media professionals and JOY Media, participants developed practical skills in storytelling, interviewing, recording, sound editing and podcast production.
They also had opportunities to build confidence, develop real-world communication and media skills, connect with their peers and practise leadership.
For the young people involved, the project was about more than learning how to make a podcast. It was about having a genuine say in what they wanted to create and how they wanted to express themselves.
“I’ve loved being a part of the FOSTER Care to Listen team and getting to host our very own podcast. It’s a little weird with how many people I know have listened to it, but also really cool!”
Creating a safe space to be heard
Creating a safe and supportive environment was central to the project.
A strengths-based and trauma-informed approach gave participants control over what they chose to share, while cultural safety and inclusion were embedded throughout the program.
The group also spent time together outside of recording sessions, building relationships and creating connections through group dinners and events.
“My favourite part of the project has been coming together for the group dinners and events. It’s also been pretty cool using the tech and equipment.”
These connections were an important part of creating a space where young people could feel comfortable sharing their ideas and supporting one another.
Challenging stereotypes about out-of-home care
The podcast has also created an opportunity for participants to challenge stereotypes and misinformation about out-of-home care.
By hearing directly from young people with lived experience, listeners can gain a different perspective on what life in care can look like, while hearing about the diverse interests, experiences and strengths of young people themselves.
As one participant explained, the podcast has opened the door for people to ask questions and have conversations about foster care.
That is one of the project’s most important messages: listening to young people can change the conversation.
Your story matters
FOSTER Care to Listen is ultimately about shifting the focus from speaking for young people to listening to young people.
The project has given participants the opportunity to develop new skills, build connections and share their perspectives in their own way. More importantly, it has created a platform where young people with experience of out-of-home care can decide what they want people to hear.
As Brandon Morris, Cultural Support Consultant at Challenge Community Services, reflected:
“I love what we’ve achieved together and the messages that have really landed for a lot of people out there. Going forward and now that we have the means, there’s lots of exciting possibilities for Challenge Community Services in the podcasting world!”
For young people in or from out-of-home care, the message behind FOSTER Care to Listen is simple: your story matters, your ideas matter, and people are ready to listen.
Listen to FOSTER Care to Listen
Hear directly from young people with lived experience of out-of-home care by listening to the FOSTER Care to Listen podcast.
